Type-writing machine.



J. K. LUX.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rILnn D20. 27. 1909.

982,684. Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

. In/141mm 10 I9.

4 a7 8 5 as y d'liwaemcfl I V I M I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS K. LUX, 0F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

To all'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS K. LUx, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to the line-spacing devices of typewriting machines, particularly those which have revoluble platens and line-spacing wheels, and is in the nature of an improvement upon Patent No. 921,7 7 9, F. A. Young, granted May 18-, 1909.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simplified device, which may readily be applied to existing machines of various types, for rendering it convenient to write one or more characters just above or just below the main line of writing.

In carrying out my invention, I employ the usual single line-spacing wheel, having the usual number of notches, each notch corresponding to the usual line-spacing movement of the platen; said wheel being operated by the line-spacing lever and pawl in the usual manner.

In place of the spring check or detent however, which usually runs upon said wheel and falls into the notches, whereby the number of possible positions in which the platen may be held, by said check, is limited by the number of notches in the wheel, I employ a double check having two anti-friction rolls to engage said wheel, said rolls however being situated at an interval not agreeing with the interval between any two notches of the line-space wheel. The construction is such that during ordinary line-spacing one of the check rolls is constantly effective to hold the platen in position for writing the line, the other roll being idle; while at any time the platen may be turned about half a space in either direction to permit the idle check roll to come into use by seating itself in a notch of the linespace wheel, for the purpose of locating the platen and holding it steady while one or more characters are written either above or swiveled to the end of a spring-pressed arm,

which takes the place of the spring-pressed Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 27, 1909.

Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

Serial No. 534,910.

arm heretofore employed to carry a single check on its free end. The platen may be used freely for line-spacing in the ordinary manner, or for writing either above or below the line, or for writing lines at one-half the usual intervals. I also provide means for throwing both platen checks out of use together, when it is desired to relieve the platen from their control, as in writing upon irregular forms, etc. The double detent may also be used for other pur oses.

In the accompanyim drawings, P igure 1 is a perspective view of one end of the platen frame of an Underwood front strike writ-ing machine, showing the present improvements applied thereto; a part of the check-releasing lever being broken away. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lever with the rollcarrier swiveled thereto. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the end of the platen frame, showing the upper roll of the air in effective position. Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the lower roll of the pair in efl'ective position. Fig. 5 illustrates the manner of releasing the platen from the control of both check rolls. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the platen check mechanism.

Types 1 are mounted on type bars 2 to swing against the front side of a platen 3, which is fixed upon an axle 4: journaled in the ends of a platen frame 5. The linespace wheel 6 is fixed upon said axle, and has the usual notches 7 to be engaged by a driving pawl 8. The latter is operated by the usual lever 9, which engages a slide'lO, to throw the same backwardly; said driving pawl being pivoted at 11 upon said slide; and a spring 12 returning the slide and lever to normal position after actuation.

As usual, the length'of the line-spacing movement of the platen is regulated by a lever 13, to equal one, two or three of the notches 7 of the line-space wheel; said lever being connected to the usual regulator 14.- havin a tri 15 to en a e a nose 16 D b b provided upon the pawl 8, to lift said pawl clear of the line-space wheel after it has rotated the same. The position of the tri 15 determines at what point the pawl 8 sha l.

reengage the line-space wheel at the succeeding stroke of the lever 9, and hence regulates the length of said stroke in the manner already described and usually practiced in said Underwood machine.

A check arm 17 is pivoted at 18 upon the platen frame, and urged by a spring 19 for-' to said check arm a bar or carrier 21, in

which are journaled upper and lower check rolls '22, 23, by means of pins '24, 25 fixed to said bar at points about equi-distant from the pivot 20 of the carrier, so that the rolls may be pressed with equal force against the teeth of the line-space wheel. The distance between the rolls 22 and 23 is such that when one roll is seated in a notch 7 of the line-space wheel, and is hence effective to hold the platen, the other roll is pressing idly against the tip of a neighbor ing tooth of the wheel, and serves only as a fulcrum to enable said lever 17 to swing the other end of the carrier 21 to'carry the other roll into a notch of the wheel.

In operation, the lever 9 isreciprocated and effects line-spacing in the usual manner through the slide 11 and the pawl 8; and the parts may be so constructed and arranged that the upper roll 22 for instance-may be the one that normally checks the platen duringthe usual operation of the machine; or in other words, it may be the. onethat is seated in the notch of-the wheel when the rotation of the latter is arrested by the engagement of the nose 16 with the stop 26 usually provided upon the platen frame, to limit the stroke of the line-spacing devices; and in that case the lower roll '23 will usually come to rest upon the tip of a wheel tooth, as at Fig. 3. Then it is desired to write a character below the line of writing, the platen is advanced by one of the usual knobs 27, Fig. 6, until the lower wheel 23 falls into the adjoining notch of the wheel,

at which time the upper check roll 22 will bepressing idly against the tip of a tooth, as at Fig. 4. While the parts are in these positions one or more characters may be written below the main line, as seen diagrammatically at the right hand of Fig. 4.

If it is desired to write above the main line, the platen is turned half a line-space in the other direction, as will be understood.

'In any case the member 21 acts as an equalizing lever, to enable the pressure of the spring-pressed'check bar 17 to force either one or the other of the check rolls into a notch of the line-space wheel; the pressure of the spring 19 beingincreased somewhat beyond that of the nasal spring, in order to get the required control over the platen.

, For releasing the platen from the control of the platen check device, I provide a cam lever 28 pivoted upon the platen axle and having a finger-piece 29,and also having two cams 30 and 31, the upper to engage the projecting pin. 24 of the check roll 22, and the lower to engage simultaneously the projecting pin 25 of the check roll 23. By

grasping the finger-piece 29 and swinging 1t up, the cam s 30 and 31 force the platen claim 1. The combinationwith a platen and a ratchet wheel therefor, of apair of checks, and a spring-device to press said checks s1- multaneously against the ratchet wheel,said checks being mounted at such an interval that when either is in a notch of the ratchet wheel the other rests uponthe point of a tooth of said wheel. I

2; The combination 'with a platen-and a ratchet wheel therefor, of a pair of checks, and a device to press said checks against the ratchet wheel, said checks being mounted upon aspring-pressed equalizing bar at such an interval that when either is in a notch of the ratchet. wheel the other rests upon the point of a tooth of said wheel.

3. The combination with a platen and a ratchet wheel therefor, of a pair of checks,-

an equalizing bar upon which said checks are mounted, and a spring-pressed arm pivoted to said equalizing'barbetween said checks, the latter being mounted so that when either is .in a notch of the ratchet wheel the other rests uponthe point of a a suitable support, said checks mounted at such an interval that when either is effective the other is in idle position. i

6. The combination with a platen and a ratchet wheel having a single set of teeth, of a spring-check device therefor comprising a pair of checks mounted upon a sprlngpressed arm at such an interval that when either is effective the other is in idle position, and a releasing lever having earns to throwboth of said checks out of use.

7. The combination with a platen and a ratchet wheel therefor, ofa pair of checks, an equalizing bar upon which said checks are mounted, a spring-pressed arm pivoted to said equalizing bar between said checks,

I the latter being mounted so thatwhen either is in a notch of the-ratchet wheel the other rests upon the point of a tooth of said wheel, and a releasing lever having cams to throw both of said checks out of use.

8. The combination with a platen and a ratchet wheel having a single set of teeth, of a spring-check device therefor comprising a air of checks mounted upon a springpresse arm, one check in. advance of the other at such an interval that when either is effective the other is in idle position, and a releasing lever' having cams to throw both of said checks outof use; said checks having projecting pins engageable b said cams.

9. The combination with a p aten and a ratchet wheel having a single set of teeth, of a spring-check device therefor comprising a pair of spring-pressed checks mounted one in'advance of the other at such an interval that when either is eflective the other is in idle position, and a releasing lever havin cams to throw both of said checks out'o use; said lever pivoted upon an axle upon which the platen turns.

10. The combination with a platen and a ratchet wheel, of a device carrying two checks and swiveled between said checks to a suitable support, said checks mounted at such an interval that when either is effective the other is in idle position, and means for relieving the platen from the control of said checks simultaneously;

JULIUS K. LUX.

' Witnesses J OHN O. Snirnn'r, K. FRANKFORT. 

